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Unruly lawyers turn mobsters in B’lore
Voting for final phase of UP polls today |
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SP campaigned the most, Cong the least
Mining baron Reddy sent to CBI custody
Goa poll: Congress faces tough battle
Aarushi trial not to be shifted to Delhi
Mamata’s nephew gets bail
Gadkari game for 2nd term
Pentagon says US forces stationed in India, Delhi denies it
Probe into thrashing of teen by AP cops
China not building dam on Brahmaputra: Ministry Mumbai Cong ex-chief’s properties attached
HC reprimands Mamata govt
25 yrs on, Bodos renew vow to continue struggle for state
Pvt TV channels on way out of K’taka House?
Violence in Maldives concerns India
DRDO plans oxygen booster for jawans at higher reaches
Swami Agnivesh allowed to go abroad
Director, Balaji Films booked for cheating
Geelani feigns ignorance
about Delhi terror suspect AP Speaker disqualifies 16 Jagan loyalists
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Unruly lawyers turn mobsters in B’lore
Bangalore, March 2 The lawyers resorted to violence apparently to protest against the media coverage of their January protest that had gridlocked traffic for seven hours in the city’s central business district. The lawyers pounced on mediapersons, including women, TV camera crew and photographers who had gathered at the crowded civil court premises in the heart of the city to cover court appearance of former Karnataka minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy in an illegal mining case. Two cameramen of a couple of Kannada channels suffered bleeding following head injuries in the assault while Deputy Commissioner of Police G Ramesh was hit on the head by stones thrown by lawyers. At least three other cops were admitted in the Bowring Hospital here with serious injuries including a head injury. A doctor at the hospital said while none of these injuries were “life-threatening”, the victims would require “observation”. Many others - consisting of both scribes and cops - have suffered “minor injuries”, he said. The trouble started when a few advocates objected to TV crew and photographers trying to capture Reddy’s alighting from a vehicle to proceed to the court. As police stepped in to control them, the lawyers locked themselves inside the five-storeyed court house and rained various missiles on cops and civilians who were on the ground below. The missiles included saucers, tumblers, paperweights and even chairs. Police had earlier cane-charged and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the lawyers.
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Voting for final phase of UP polls today
Lucknow, March 2 The final phase in which 1.8 crore voters will decide the fate of 962 candidates was actually scheduled as the first phase to be held on February 4. It had to be rescheduled due to the Barawafat holiday and shifted to March 3 instead. The districts that are included in this phase consist of the erstwhile Rohilkhand and Terai districts bordering the Indo-Nepal border. They include Bijnore, Moradabad, Bheem Nagar, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Badaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Khiri. The political bigwigs whose fate would be decided tomorrow include the so-called Muslim face of the Samajwadi Party Mohammad Azam Khan from Rampur; the only woman minister in the Mayawati government Omwati from Nagina; former mayor of Bareilly and Congress candidate from the city Supriya Aron; and former mafia don-turned-politician DP Yadav. The last phase of polling would be important for almost all political parties, particularly for the BJP as the influence of its young firebrand leader and Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi and his mother Maneka Gandhi will be on the test. The phase will also see BJP’s solitary Muslim candidate Shakil Ahmed Saifi from Sahaswan seat seeking votes for his party. Minister of State for Surface Transport Jitin Prasada's area of influence - Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri - is also going to the polls in this phase where he has extensively toured along with Rahul Gandhi.
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SP campaigned the most, Cong the least
Lucknow, March 2 The most-intensive election campaigner was Samajwadi Party state president Akhilesh Yadav who addressed 501 election meetings. He also took out a Kranti Rath Yatra which started in September 2011 and virtually touched each Assembly segment. Tainted BSP Cabinet minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui came a distant second - by speaking at 211 election meetings. Third on the list is Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who addressed 195 election meetings. In support of the Congress, its president Sonia Gandhi held seven meetings, one for each phase of elections and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also came to woo voters at Kanpur and Jyotiba Phule Nagar. In the BSP, only three persons campaigned across the state as star campaigners. Besides Siddiqui, Satish Mishra held 145 meetings covering approximately 15,000 km by road. BSP supremo Mayawati addressed only 58 meetings this time. In the BJP, the most-active campaigner was former national president and Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, who held 141 meetings, with Uma Bharti emerging a close second with 138 meetings. Its national president Nitin Gadkari addressed 66 meetings. Even the mandir movement architect LK Advani addressed 17 meetings in Uttar Pradesh this time.
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Mining baron Reddy sent to CBI custody
Bangalore, March 2 Reddy and 20 others are facing charges for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, over which the CBI had filed an FIR against them in October last. Reddy was brought here in the early hours of today by police personnel from Hyderabad by road and later escorted into the court. Associated Mining Corporation (AMC) and Deccan Mining Syndicate (DMC) owned by Reddy and his wife Aruna Lakshmi have been facing probe over charges of illegal mining. Additional Civil and Sessions Court judge BM Angadi remanded Reddy in custody after the CBI moved an application in this regard. Former minister and Congress leader V Muniyappa and a few officials including one from the IAS and another from the Indian Forest Service (IFS) are the other accused in the case.
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Goa poll: Congress faces tough battle
Mumbai, March 2 A rare Chief Minister to have completed his term in office in recent years, Kamat is facing allegations of favouring the powerful mining lobby and quietly letting his Cabinet colleagues have their way in order to stay in power. The opposition BJP says the government suppressed a report prepared by Justice MB Shah on illegal mining in the state in order to save its face. Citizens' groups which have emerged as a major voice of political opinion in the state. They have been posing questions to candidates on garbage accumulation, shortage of water, traffic jams etc. Congress leaders themselves fear that the party is unlikely to get a majority on its own and Independents and the MGP will emerge as kingmakers.
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Aarushi trial not to be shifted to Delhi
New Delhi, March 2 A Bench of Justices BS Chauhan and JS Khehar passed an order, pointing out that none of the grounds on which the dentist couple had sought transfer was valid. The couple had contended that they had shifted from Noida to Delhi about two years ago following the “horrendous” experience they had in Uttar Pradesh, they feared threat to their lives in that state and most of the witnesses were in Delhi. They had also argued that the atmosphere in the Ghaziabad court was not conducive to holding a fair trial. The Bench said the CBI and the UP Government had assured the court that adequate security would be provided to the couple. On the atmosphere in the Ghaziabad trial court, the Bench ordered that only the parties to the case and their lawyers would be present during the hearings. Aarushi was found murdered at her Noida house on the night of May 15-16, 2008. The body of the family’s domestic servant, Hemraj was found on the terrace the next day. Initially, the case was investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Police that arrested Rajesh on May 23, 2008. The CBI took over the probe on May 29, 2008. After probing the case for two-and-a-half years, the CBI filed its closure report in the special court at Ghaziabad, contending that it was unable to gather any evidence to prosecute the Talwars. Rejecting the closure report, the trial court decided to proceed against the couple.
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Mamata’s nephew gets bail
Kolkata, March 2 Acting Chief Judicial Magistrate Alipore S Hossain granted the bail pleas of Banerjee and Nitish Singh, Md Sarmuddin and Amit Mishra till August 16 on a bail bond of Rs 1,000 each. The prosecution opposed the bail plea and prayed for judicial custody of all the accused, but the court granted their bail pleas after hearing both the parties and examining the case record. The counsel for the accused submitted that their clients had been wrongfully charged under Section 353, a non-bailable charge. They stated that Section 186 (obstructing public servant from discharge of his public duty) of IPC, which is a non-cognisable and bailable charge, should be applied instead. Claiming that the accused had not assaulted the sergeant, they stated that it was an incident of traffic violation. — PTI
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Gadkari game for 2nd term
New Delhi, March 2 Whatever may be the outcome of the present Assembly elections, Gadkari’s stock rose both within the BJP and his alma mater the RSS for virtually single-handedly taking on the daunting task of leading the election campaign against Rahul Gandhi’s charisma in Uttar Pradesh. Gadkari completes his three-year term in December, but the BJP is not sure how long the UPA government will last. It does not want to take chances by getting embroiled in its organisational elections while the nation is busy electing a new Prime Minister, explained a party insider. On record, party spokesman Prakash Javadekar tried to sidestep the question saying, “These decisions are taken by the national executive and national council and the BJP national executive meets every three months to decide on all important issues.”
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Tackling Terror Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 2 Ministry of Defence spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said: “US Special Forces teams have never been stationed in India in the past, nor are such teams stationed in the country presently.” Kar added that the Ministry of Defence has come across a press report relating to remarks attributed to a US armed forces official on the positioning of US Special Forces teams in various South Asian countries, including India. “The report is factually incorrect in so far as the reference to India is concerned,” he said. News agency PTI in a report from Washington quoted US forces Pacific Area Command (PACOM) Chief Admiral Robert Willard as having said that teams (US teams) have been deployed to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities, particularly in the maritime domain. “We have currently special forces assist teams laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India,” Willard told US lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in response to a question on co-operation with India on counter-terrorism issues, the PTI report said. Separately, India and the US do conduct joint military exercises. One such named “Yudh Abhayaas’ is slated to start in the next two days in the deserts of Rajasthan using mechanised infantry and engineering elements. Officials in India said the US Commander probably wrongly mentioned such exercises as stationing of his troops in India. Such exercises are conducted with several countries like Russia, UK and France, among a host of other nations, officials said.
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Probe into thrashing of teen by AP cops
Hyderabad, March 2 The disturbing visuals of the cops thrashing a 16-year-old boy were telecast by a local cable television channel. The visuals showed Circle Inspector Deva Reddy and Constable Ganga Reddy beating up the boy for allegedly stealing petrol and spare parts from parked vehicles in the town in Karimnagar district.
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China not building dam on Brahmaputra: Ministry
New Delhi, March 2
While the External Affairs Ministry reiterated that there was no evidence of construction of any dam on the river by China on its side, the Water Resources Ministry assured that India was keeping a “constant watch on all the developments that have a bearing on India’s interests and will take necessary measures to protect them”. The Water Resources Ministry said, “The changes in the river regime and flows are a natural phenomenon dependent on various hydro-meteorological and climatological factors.” Sources in the MEA said the issue had been taken up with China that had assured that it was doing nothing on its side to affect the flow of the Brahmaputra. In any case, the government was keeping a close watch on activities that could affect the country’s interests, they added. Tako Dabi, Political Adviser to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, who also happens to be the spokesperson of the state government, had yesterday apprehended that China might have diverted water of the river, known as Yarlong Tsangpo in Tibet, or could have put some artificial blockade in the flow. His comments came even as Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was meeting External Affairs Minister SM Krishna in New Delhi. Dabi was quoted as saying that people in Pasighat town recently found the Siang almost dried up in the area, shrinking about a km from its bank. China has planned to construct eight cascade hydropower dams in the upper Mekong Basin in Yunnan province, experts say, adding that the issue must be taken up at the highest level. The Brahmaputra issue is now a permanent fixture in India-China talks. However, Water Resources Ministry officials said Dabi’s statement “may be based on the visual impression gathered from general public perception of the rivers flows around Pasighat town”.
Not affecting flow of water to India: China
BEIJING: Claiming that its hydropower project on the Brahmaputra in Tibet was not obstructing the water flow to India, China today said its dam was “not big” enough to affect the lower riparian regions. “...you might have noted, Foreign Minister (SM) Krishna and other Indian officials have remarked to the knowledge of the Indian Government, China has not developed new hydroprojects on the river,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here. — PTI
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Mumbai Cong ex-chief’s properties attached
Mumbai, March 2 Late Thursday onwards, teams from the Economic Offenses Wing of the Mumbai Police and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) began raids on a number of properties belonging to Singh, his wife and children across Mumbai. So far, a large number of shops, flats, offices and commercial properties belonging to Singh and his relatives in addition to his bungalow, Tarang, have been sealed, the police said. Several expensive cars belonging to the leader, too, have been attached. In all, 19 properties have been identified as belonging to Singh and his relatives. Singh himself was in Delhi to challenge the Bombay High Court's orders in the Supreme Court. The court's crackdown on Singh came after a PIL filed by a city-based activist. Sources said a large number of documents have allegedly been seized from premises belonging to Singh. Home Minister RR Patil said the state government would deploy a chartered accountant to aid investigators in probing Singh's assets. "The government will not shield any wrongdoers. We will strictly implement the orders of the court," Patil said.
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HC reprimands Mamata govt
Subhrangshu Gupta/TNS
Kolkata, March 2 The Division Bench of Chief Justice JN Patel and Justice Shambhdha Chakraborty is considering a PIL demanding a CBI probe into the killing of Pradip Tah, a former CPM MLA and Kamal Gayen, a district committee member, allegedly by TMC workers. The Bench expressed dissatisfaction that even after 10 days of the incident, the police could not furnish the post-mortem report. The Bench scolded government lawyer Ashok Banerjee when he contended that the delaying of work had been the system during the past 34 years of the Left Front’s rule which could not be changed within seven months by the TMC-Congress government. The Chief Justice said a tendency had developed to put the blame of non-performance on the alleged bad work culture created by the previous government, but that contention could not be accepted. He ordered that the post mortem report should placed before the Bench at 2 pm later in the day. The report was also faxed to the Chief Justice at 2 pm accordingly. The Bench ordered a CID inquiry into the incident.
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25 yrs on, Bodos renew vow to continue struggle for state
Guwahati, March 2
On the 25th anniversary of the Bodoland Movement, over 15,000 Bodo tribesmen under the aegis of the All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) today took a vow at a rally at Amingaon parade ground on the outskirts of Guwahati not to rest until a separate state was granted to the tribal community. The Bodo tribe claims to have a population of about 20 lakh along the entire northern bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam. Bodos are demanding a separate state as they are the single largest ethnic group inhabiting that particular stretch of the state. “The Centre granted autonomy to the community in 2003 in the form of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) according to the Bodo Peace Accord signed with the now disbanded militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT). But the community has been disillusioned over the failure of the council to trigger all-round development at the desired pace as it doesn’t have sufficient power for the purpose,” ABSU president Promode Bodo said. He said, “Our demand for statehood dates back to 1987. We are watching the UPA government’s reaction to the Telangana statehood demand. We will not rest without Bodoland.”
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Pvt TV channels on way out of K’taka House?
Bangalore, March 2 The legislature resurrected an old proposal to launch its own TV channel in a move that is widely perceived to be linked to the recent infamous incident dubbed by the media as “porngate”. The presiding officers of both the Assembly and Council, Chief Minister and other officials yesterday held a meeting here to revive the three-year-old proposal and decided to work on creating the facility. The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Legislative Council DH Shankaramurthy, Assembly Speaker KG Bopaiah
and Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, besides officials from both the legislature secretariats
and Doordarshan. “We are considering whether the legislature can own its television channel like Lok Sabha. What are the financial implications etc,” Sadananda Gowda said. Gowda ruled out banning the private channels’ entry into the Legislature during the Budget session next month. Three years ago, a committee under the chairmanship of A Ramdas, now medical education minister, was set up and it submitted a report stating that a television channel might cost Rs 25 crore. Shankaramurthy said the investment might go up as three years had passed after the estimate was made.
Chairman of the Legislative Council DH Shankaramurthy denied that the proposal had been resurrected after the ministers were caught watching porn inside the Assembly when it was in session. “It is not correct. We have been discussing it for the past three months,” he said. Ministers Laxman Savadi and CC Patil were caught on camera watching sleazy visuals on a mobile phone allegedly belonging to Krishna Palemar. The trio subsequently had to tender their resignations from the Cabinet.
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Violence in Maldives concerns India
New Delhi, March 2 The developments in the Maldives were an internal matter of the country, to be resolved by Maldivians in a peaceful and democratic manner, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in response to a question. India, he said, would encourage all parties to exercise their responsibilities to the Maldivian people and to continue discussions under the All-Party Consultative Committee and the People's 'Majlis' (Parliament) to find a peaceful and viable solution as agreed under the roadmap. India, the spokesman reiterated, stood ready to assist the government and the people of Maldives in any manner necessary. The Maldivian Parliament had yesterday witnessed scuffles and angry exchanges as members of former President Mohammed Nasheed's party disrupted proceedings and prevented new President Mohammed Waheed from delivering his maiden address. Speaker Abdulla Shahid had alleged that he was mobbed to the ground by the agitating lawmakers and suffered injuries. New Delhi is worried that the incidents took place just a day after Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai returned from the Maldives after wide-ranging discussions with all parties. His impression was that there was a broad measure of agreement among all parties that envisaged continued dialogue on the way forward, including possible amendment to the Constitution and enactment of legislation for institutional reforms. Mathai had met both the new President Waheed and his predecessor Nasheed, who was ousted on February 7, among others, and was given to understand that all parties would cooperate with each other in restoring normalcy in the country. Different parties had expressed the view that India had played a very useful role in taking the political process forward in the Maldives as a facilitator and friend of the Maldivian people. Asked about the allegations of interference by India leveled by some parties in the Maldives, sources said India did not wish to interfere in the decision-making about the roadmap but would continue its role of facilitator, as needed.
Two key political parties withdraw from talks
Male: In a setback to efforts to bring about a political reconciliation in Maldives, two key parties including that of former dictator Maumoon Gayoom have withdrawn from the all-party talks that were being held to chalk out the way for an early poll. Maldives' second largest political bloc Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and the third largest Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) of Gayoom, withdrew from the talks citing their anger over the disruption of parliament by lawmakers of former President Mohamed Nasheed's party on Thursday. The PPM's withdrawal was announced by its interim deputy leader Abdulraheem Abdulla, also an MP. — PTI
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DRDO plans oxygen booster for jawans at higher reaches
Chandigarh, March 2 Induction in high-altitude areas requires a three-stage acclimatisation process spread over several days so that the human body can gradually adapt itself to the harsh climatic conditions. Non-acclimatisation, especially at altitudes above 4,500 meters, can result in serious medical and physiological disorders. The DRDO is developing oxygen enrichment shelters to help troops when proper acclimatisation process is not possible. In such situations, the use of pharmacological agents like acetazolamide and glucocottocoid is found to be beneficial in preventing acute mountain sickness, a DRDO internal bulletin has revealed. In Siachen, some posts are located as high as 21,000 feet. Rapid induction of troops at high altitude may be required during combat operations or for search and rescue in case of a major accident or a disaster like an avalanche. More soldiers have been lost to the vagaries of the weather and environment than to enemy action in this sector. Given the terrain and living conditions at high altitude, only a limited number of troops can be retained at forward posts above certain heights. Reinforcements, if called for, are rushed in from lower altitudes. It has also been recommended that local commanders should maintain an adequate reserve of acclimatised troops at various altitude levels to cater to emergency situations. Low levels of oxygen, sub-zero temperatures, high-speed blizzards and chilly winds have adverse effects like loss of appetite, lethargy, nausea, pulmonary and cerebral oedema and frostbite. Some of these disorders can be life-threatening. In fact, during the 1962 war with China, high-altitude disorders resulting from rapid induction of non-acclimatised troops led to heavy casualties.
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Swami Agnivesh allowed to go abroad
Chandigarh, March 2 The development is significant as conditions imposed at the time of granting bail to the swami prohibit him from travelling abroad without the court’s prior permission. The swami has been booked under Section 295 and 295-A of the IPC on a complaint of Parveen Kumar Tayal. The swami has been accused of terming the Amarnath Yatra a fraud in the name of religion. The statement had come during his meeting with president of Hurriat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Last year, a court had issued a non-bailable warrant against the swami. The high court had already turned down the swami’s plea for quashing an FIR registered against him.
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Director, Balaji Films booked for cheating
Mumbai, March 2 The police said Gupta and officials of Balaji Films have been charged with cheating and forgery after they sent out invitations that resembled letters from the Mumbai's Police commissioner's office for their latest movie ‘Shootout at Wadala’.
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Geelani feigns ignorance
about Delhi terror suspect New Delhi, March 3 Geelani claims he does not remember giving a recommendation letter to the suspected terrorist. The police said Ahtesham travelled to Pakistan last year for training in weapons and explosives. Geelani, however, admitted the details from Ahtesham’s passport were written in a form issued by his party. “The Pakistan High Commission directs a visa seeker to either us or any other political party in Jammu and Kashmir. The Tehreek-e-Hurriyat form is like a recommendation letter which is sent to the High Commission after the particulars are filled in. Once a person receives a visa, we are not concerned about what he or she thereafter does in Pakistan,” he said. The police is likely to question Geelani. Sources said a copy of the letter was found among documents that the police seized from Ahtesham. Geelani said, “I don’t remember providing a recommendation letter to him. Every month, many people approach us for recommendation. The police has not yet questioned me about him.” Geelani said his party, before issuing a recommendation letter, asks the individual to spell out reasons for going to Pakistan. “Most want to visit their relatives while some go there for marriage purpose,” he said. Ahtesham was reportedly trained in handling weapons and bomb making in Pakistan. He was reportedly asked to contact a Lahore-based person, Javed. A senior J&K Police officer said Ahtesham was arrested in 2007 when he was an active LeT member. “After he was released, he went to Jharkhand where he developed contacts. He was in touch with a person named Furquan, an LeT operative in Pakistan. Furquan is also responsible for several terror operations across Kashmir,” he said. Ahtesham communicated with his handlers by using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), social networking sites such as Facebook and voice calls made over internet sites, said the officer.
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AP Speaker disqualifies 16 Jagan loyalists Hyderabad, March 2 The Speaker also accepted the resignation of Praja Rajyam Party MLA B Sobha Nagi Reddy who too had backed Jagan. The development brings down the strength of Congress from 154 to 137 in a House of 294, but does not threaten the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, which enjoys the support of 17 members of PRP and seven of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimin. There are already seven seats vacant in the Assembly. All these MLAs owing allegiance to YSR Congress President and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy, were disqualified under the anti-defection law after they had defied the party whip and voted against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government on the no-confidence motion moved by main opposition Telugu Desam Party on December 5 last year. — PTI
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New Delhi, March 2
Extra precaution has been taken in the sensitive areas falling under the districts of Bareilly, Moradabad, Bijnore, Badaun and Rampur districts. As many as 770 companies of both central military force and the PAC have been deployed. The international border with Nepal and the inter-state border with Uttarakhand have been sealed.
While the Samajwadi Party (SP) held 592 meetings, the BSP was a close second with 413 meetings. The BJP came third at 362 and the Congress, despite the media hype, was fourth with 302 such public meetings by its top leadership.
When Gadkari was asked today at the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) about a second term, he replied that while he was not “lobbying” for one “I will do whatever I am asked to do to the best of my ability. I may have made bona fide mistakes, not mala fide.”
